The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-02-18

one, and where those known to her in her
present life might sometimes (cruel
thought be seen by her.
"Wellr' she says.
at will take me out of the country.
The fact is, continues he, rushing at the
rest OF his communication, ~ have been
offered post of-of trust that will take
me to America"
"You go there in search of this man
who has stolen the sapphiresY' says she,
quickly. "You are hunting him down.
Is this your post of trusti Are you IA
detectiveY'
Something like q vague smile 6its
across his face as he notices how she
shrinks from him.
"Not exactly" His tone is full of mys-
terry. "If detectives are abhorrent to
you, be happy in the thought that have
nothing in common with them; that, In
fact, detest them quite as much as you
do. Mo- am going there in advance Of
the detectives, as 1 hope. You'll be
ready TO come with mef'
"Is it to be soonT'
at may sound soon TO you, perhaps. In
about month from to-day it Is now
growing toward the end Of July. "But
/ may have to start earlier than that You
will be readyi"
He is very pale as he presses the ques-
ton. If she refuses-if she even bar
gains for more time, it viii cause confus-
ion, But she does not refuse A pro-
found sigh escapes her, but she says:
eyes, shall be ready, ~ in voice sub
dued but void of trembling. If she is to
marry him, and thus to resign all good
the world can give her. it will make lit
tie difference whether she lives with him
here or in that far country he has
named; then q sudden thought occur
ring, she looks at him eagerly: "My
mother" she says.
"Will of course accompany u.s."
"Will your stay there be long?"
~ hardly know--for some years cer-
tainly after that it is undecided"
Everything is undecided that lies in
the years beyond;' she sighs again.
"You are going abroad tomorrow, you
sayP"
Eyes, for a week or two-perbaps
three But shall be back in time for
our wedding"
He attempts to speak lightly, but the
sad look on the girls face checks him.
He is, however, too elated by the victory
already achieved to know any fear for
the future. No doubt she is pining at the
thought of leaving her home, but once
married to him, the power and persist
ence of his love will conquer all regrets.
So he thinks; so he vainly believes.
"Don't look so grieved, my darling"
he whispers fondly, pressing her
hand between both his own. "Think
of the long and happy future that
lies before you, with me forever
as your slave. The time will come,
Nadine, when you will not regard any
ties but the one that binds me to you.
Ties of home and kindred will be as
naught beside it. Though now, perhaps,
you give me your heart unwillingly,
then you will love even as you are be-
loved. Oh, that that glad hour were
blended with this!'' He presses his lips
ecstatically to the hand he still holds
His whole face grows bright with the
affection that glOws within him. Then
one word that he has used returns to him
with unpleasant force. "Unwilling," p"
he goes on musing;y, frowning slightly.
Eyes, you are unwilling to give me your
| heart
| "Ah, moi" says she gently, and with a
troubled air of uncertainty; 81 am not
unwilling You mistake me. 1 would,
with all my soul, that l could love you us
you desire, and perhaps, indeed, in
time"- she hesitates, as though lost
in labyrinth of painful thought. "No,
/ am not unwilling" she repeats again,
| leellnB now BOOu u VnillS IL NOulu Dt IOr
| her could she indeed obliterate from her
mind all the too dear past and give her
self entirely to this man. "You speak as
though I am obstinately Withholding
something-as il you believed you were
robbing me of the heart on which you
set such store. But it is not SO. What
ever else you may have stolen, it was moi
| my love. You cannot steal that; but
some day, perhaps, shall give it to you. y
Preoccupied as she is with sad and
hurtful memory, she is reused to present
life by the curious glance and start that
follows on her speech Both are subdued
as suddenly as they came, and Annerley
once more regards her with only the ar
dent look of affection that before was his
but Nadine cannot forget that they wer'
there. Has he heard of Mr.. Duran9 Ha,
Madness acquaintance with him come Il
his ears? Does he suspect Duran o
being the thief who has stolen from hin
his loves heartY She feels n little colo
and sick with anxiety as she waits fo
his next words. They reassure her.
"You give me fresh life," he says
''Some day, indeed, the love crave shall
be mine. And now," glancing at hi
watch, 81 fear our last moment has come
Now must bid you farewell, until tn
happy time that will see me home will
| sou WIN near OIly a lev
hours distant. Good-by, my darling, m,
best belovedp'
Not living soul is in sight Foldin,
her closely in his arms, he holds her T.
him as though he could never agail
suffer her to go. She feels the reality
the wild earnestness of his love at thi
instant as she never before realized il
Softened, subdued by it, she gently re
turns his embrace, and then stands bac
from him.
"You will think of me-kindly, Low
inglys" breathes he with passionate en-
treaty. Sweetheart if you could onl
know how hard it is to part from you fo
even these few days Nadine, have pity O
me, and try to love m3in my absence. The
say absence makes the heart grow fol
der;' prove II saying true. Alasl hoy
fatally honest your sweet eyes can b,
There is nothing in them for me-notl
ing but pity! Well, even that is bette
than a few other things l could name
1t is at least akin to love. But have yo
no sorrow in that We must partS Al
you cold alwayst Suppose we shoul
never meet again after this hour-nevt
in all our years on earthY would not tn
move your Why, no! You look bewi
dered, but not sad. 1t is the last mi
mentl l cannot see you again to-nigl
| -pcShust-DcCauSt Ol-- never Mlu
that Good-by, my pretty girlr'
Once again he folds her in his arm
Once again he passionately presses h
lips to hers.
He releases her.
This fear Of mine is folly" he whi
pers heavily. at is but for a week
two. We shall meet again, to know l
other parting-save deathr
He guides her quickly on her backwai
way to where again the gates loom larl
and dark. Into a cab outside he pu
her, lays his face for an instant again
her palm, and then is lost among Il
growing mists of the night.
: Now, and only now, Nadine remeI
bers how she had forgotten to tell him
the projected visit to Valworth Park
( TO BR CONTINUED IN OUR NExT,
, Fig Pudding: Three-quarters of
pound of grated bread, half pound
: | haat Acc atx II IL.